What’s the worst that can happen to a player that forces him off the ice? A season-ending injury might be one of the things that come to mind. Yet, you could argue a suspension earned due to a banned substance violation is worse. That’s because while the fans rally to support an injured player, the latter is a different story, as Aaron Ekblad is finding out.

The Florida Panthers’ star defenseman incurred a suspension at a crucial point for his team. The NHL has suspended Ekblad with just 18 games left till the Stanley Cup playoffs. While Ekblad will be back for the playoffs, his statement after the suspension isn’t winning over any fans. In fact, they seem to be having a hard time taking it seriously, with one fan saying: “That’s totally believable.”

So what did Aaron Ekblad say? NHL reporter Elliotte Friedman revealed the Panthers’ player apology on X. “The news that I had failed a random drug test was a shock. Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel,” the defenseman said in his defense.

What was shocking about Ekblad’s incident was just how rare performance-enhancing substance violations have become in the NHL. Naturally, it took some time for the news to sink in. The Associated Press noted exactly how rare they’ve become, reporting that Ekblad is the first player since Nate Schmidt to be suspended for such an offense.

When did Schmidt get suspended, you ask? Well, that would be nearly seven years ago in 2018. Yet, secondly, Schmidt also expressed his shock in a similar manner, after earning the suspension. “It was utterly shocking to be informed that I tested positive for a microscopic amount of a tainted substance,” said the then-Golden Knights defenseman.

Coincidentally, Nate Schmidt is now a teammate of Ekblad now. Yet after NHL fans got over the initial shock of the news, they didn’t seem to be in a forgiving mood.

NHL fans were reluctant to believe Aaron Ekblad

Ice hockey fans didn’t seem quite pleased with the athlete’s excuse. Some resorted to sarcastically questioning Ekblad’s statement addressing the whole situation. “What a sincere apology,” wrote the fan, expressing their doubt on how much the 29-year-old chose to share with the public.

“Hollow statement,” commented another netizen. “Wrote what needed to be said and that is all,” they added. Meanwhile, some fans saw if the suspension could possibly be beneficial in some way. One of them took stock of the situation and theorized how Aaron Ekblad has now joined his teammate Matthew Tkachuk on the sidelines till the playoffs. “Oh no… Not Tkachuk and Ekblad both super rested before playoffs,” the fan wrote.

The netizen hinted how two of the team’s stars will be fresh and re-energized when the NHL playoffs roll around. However, even a 20-game suspension could prove costly for the Florida Panthers. Since the suspension will extend to his team’s first two playoff matches, the Panthers will have to keep their #1 defenseman on the bench. Far from the ideal scenario when the stakes are so high.

However, Aaron Ekblad did state about feeling remorse for his claimed oversight. “I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry,” explained the NHL veteran. “I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates,” the defenseman added.

Thankfully for Ekblad, the apology did move some fans in his favor. They admired the player’s ability to take accountability and move forward. “Refreshing to see an athlete take responsibility for themselves and accept the consequences,” commented one netizen. “Really sucks for Aaron and the Panthers but like he said good hard lesson learned,” the NHL fan added in support.

Unfortunately, the player’s apology doesn’t improve his team’s precarious playoffs prospects. Star forward Matthew Tkachuk is already out and has been placed on LTIR. Now with Aaron Ekblad also on the bench, the Panthers’ Stanley Cup projections have certainly taken a hit. Yet, what do you think of the whole situation? Tell us in the comments.